An Ennis building that
was constructed 135 years ago as a primary school today houses Riches of Clare,
the county's museum. The Clare museum, officially opened last month by Síle
de Valera, Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, is a major
cultural project developed by Ennis UDC in association with Clare County Council.
Situated in the town plaza close to Daniel O'Connell monument at the Square,
Ennis the town gallery venue houses the largest collection of artefacts on
long-term loan to any regional museum.

With a combined floor
area of 7,500 sq. feet the designers decided that the interactive media displays
be used to draw the visitor into the venue and also educate the visitor while
entertaining. Rather than follow a chronological layout the museum has decided
to present all the exhibits using the concepts of earth, power, fire, faith
and water. Under these five areas we move from exhibits from Roughan Hill
to Mooghaun hillfort, from ancient spears and axes to gold artefacts from
the mediaeval period.

But side by side with
Dev's sinn Fein banner, Michéal O hEithir's 1914 hurling ball, Parnell's
spade and Kevin Sheedy's jersey, our 1995 All-Ireland winners jersey and Noel
Roche's jerseys. Museum Curator, John Rattigan, is rightly excited by the
opening of Riches of Clare. Many of the objects are on display for the first
time and it is a reflection of the rich cultural heritage of the county.

The project cost £4.2
million, £1 million of this came from the Depatment of Arts, Heritage
and the Gaeltacht. Equipment to the value of £137,000 was supplied by
eircom's Ennis Information Age Town and there were further financial contributions
from Ennis UDC and Clare County Council. The museum which is now open should
be a major attraction to visitors and locals alike. Included among the 200
plus guests on opening night were Ned Kelly, keeper of antiquities, National
Museum, Lucia Hartnett and Carol Smith, National Museum.